On Aging by barbajoe

posted on: Oct 21, 2023 Share

I turned thirty-five this year. I fought just a week after my birthday. It was awesome. However, it was a bit demotivating as I seem to be accruing injuries and getting injured more frequently.

I've had several ankle issues, my right elbow (my dominant side) keeps getting bursitis, which got infected just a few weeks ago, I'm cramping more easily despite increased stretching times and greater attempts to keep hydrated, and I even got mono a few weeks ago and my arms pits swelled up and then, in effect, burst. So now I've got a cool new scar inside of my armpit!

I've always been happy to get older, try new things, experience new people and places, and enjoy life. I hope to keep fighting, but I'm signed up to fight in just three weeks, and the infection is lingering in my elbow. I'm going to fight for sure, but I wonder how many more times I can push my body the way I need to push it in order to win.

I have no intention of stopping, but I'm also not able to train like I want to. My time is limited I know, and I want to wring as much out of my remaining time as possible. And I want to win. Not fighting newbies either, that doesn't mean anything to me. I want to challenge myself and my opponent and feel like I had to put everything into my training, my fight, and all of that life stuff around it.

I want it all. I hope I get to keep doing this for a long time.